I'm still highly unsettled after the passing of the late-great philosopher-king poet-president former dissident author rocker of the Czech Republic Former Czechoslovakia, Vaclav Havel | Václav Havel, "Mister Czech."

Prague's popular American expat pundit, Erik Best, of the city's The Final World and The Fleet Sheet, was quick to point out how the diminutive giant Havel likely represented "Brand Czech" for most Czechs (UPDATE: Here's the link: https://twitter.com/#!/ErikBest/statu...).

In the wake of the former dissident's passing, who is there to replace him? Havel was Mr. Nice Guy, and a quick survey of the Czech domestic scene doesn't reveal a ready replacement anytime soon.

So can you blame young Czechs for their continued exodus to places of greater opportunity? Or for the futility they often feel as active members of their own domestic political scene when the prominent players pulling the levers of Czech power still sidle up to Russian energy and big business interests and agendas?

While Havel was still alive, there was a glimmer of hope. Now that he's gone, what's it going to be?